V Festival 2007

Now here’s something we can’t do anymore and occasionally it’s one of the things I really miss as I love the atmosphere at Festivals, they make my soul sing and my heart open with joy. In fact I was quite late in discovering music Festivals having spent the best part of my youth in Italy where stuck up a mountain these things were few and far between – not that we didn’t have other fantastic things to do of course.

So it wasn’t until I met Paul that I discovered them. We’d be going out for about 5 months when he first mentioned V Festival, in all honesty I didn’t have a clue what he was on about but I’m always open to new experiences and said i’d love to go along with him. That first year 2005 we chose to return home after the Saturday and travel by train back in the next day which was a shame as to catch all of the connections we had to miss the last 20 minutes of the main band but hey, we learnt form that mistake and the following years booked camping tickets which is The Best Fun Ever – trust me!

There’s nothing quite like turning up in a long queue of excited music lovers eager to get out and pitch their tents. There’s no seeking out the best spot at a festival; the most important things to bear in mind are 1. not too near the loos as they get disgusting, 2. try and get close to a fence to avoid drunks falling over you as they wander aimlessly in the middle of the night through the camp 3. Remember in which direction you parked your car, it will be very helpful on Monday morning.

We invested in a trolley to help us cart all of our belongings deemed necessary for this weekend party and by mid morning our tent was pitched and our bacon was cooking on our camp stove. we spent a weekend listening to favourite bands, new bands, bands that you’d think would NEVER make it and they did, and others who you thought were clear runners for top of the charts who you have never heard of since. I spotted stars walking in the mud, stag parties, hen parties, tea ladies, weirdos and all sorts, it’s a brilliant place to people watch.

When The Killers came on stage last band to play on the Sunday I knew I was in the right place. I watched the stage mesmerised, their music took hold of me completely and I swayed with the crowd shouting out the words with the best of them. I had previously gone alone to the bar to get myself that ‘last glass of wine’ having left Paul with his work mates who we’d managed to meet up with, ‘I’ll be back, don’t worry about me!’ I admonished, ‘you’re by the pylon, I can’t miss you!’

I did, I made my way back to the wrong pylon, one across from them but I was so taken with The Killers, I thought to myself ‘No worries, I’ll find them as soon as this is over.’ and started to enjoy the show. A hundred meters to my right Paul was looking around frantically, worried as to where I was, his friends were urging him to go and find me so he was also getting a tiny bit annoyed that I was ruining his Killer show too.

I’m sorry Paul. I really didn’t need that last glass either did I? I managed to lose my pashmina scarf on that single bar trip which I’m still gutted about but that’ll teach me to curb my drinking won’t it? Won’t it?

Thanks Karin once again for letting me indulge in my past and sharing one of my favourite memories. For many more Flashbacks head over to Cafe Bebe, it’s a lovely peek into other people’s lives

11 Comments

Jenny Paulin

April 15, 2011 / 8:29 AM

Looks like you had a lot of fun! What great memories you have of that festival. I have never attended a festival, I just could not stand the roughing it for so many days and the toilet situation! So well done you! X

I love a good Festival too but I don’t get much chance to go to them anymore these days. But this reminded me of when I went to see Bruce Springsteen at San Siro Stadium in Milan all the way back in 1986. It was just for a day but it was fantastic: it was my first BIG rock concert ever and the gigantic venue, the atmosphere of anticipation, the thousands of people, the music, the amazing presence of Bruce on stage, the dancing and cheering and jumping about just blew me away.
Ah, I also suffered from sun stroke whilst queuing for hours and hours under the June Italian sun before getting into San Siro…..but it was all worth it! :))xx

I think we must have missed eachother as I’m sure it was 2006 I went! We usually get free VIP tickets each year but I couldn’t go in 2007 and I was pregnant in 2008 and didn’t fancy it due to morning sickness (I’m such a lightweight!) – then not been because of my daughter. Perhaps this year I should just go for it….fancy coming with me? ;) A bloggers weekend!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Current ye@r *

Leave this field empty

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Tea lover, gin drinker or white wine - not fussy.
Itchy feet person who plans to see the world once the kids are grown up.
Full-time working mum in social media.
Blogger since Jan 2010.
Fuelled by chocolate - again not fussy.
Permanently knackered.